Georgian Dream MP: “vital” to protect LGBT rights while “protecting children from propaganda”

Beka Davituliani, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party on Tuesday said it was “vital” for the Government to protect the rights of the LGBT community while also “protecting minors from propaganda”.

Davituliani was speaking after the ruling Georgian Dream party initiated legislative amendments in March to "strengthen family values based on the union of a man and a woman" and implement mechanisms for "protection of minors”.

The Georgian Parliament resumed discussions on the legislative amendment package targeting on Monday.

[The measures include restricting] access to television productions that children should not have access to at an early age. This is the task of this law. This is to protect our future generation while not infringing on anyone's rights”, he said.

The ruling party will need to secure at least 113 seats in the 150-member Parliament during the upcoming October 26 general elections in order to pass the amendments.

The amendments would prohibit gatherings or distribution of materials that “promote same-sex domestic or intimate relationships, incest, same-sex couples and non-heterosexual individuals”.

They will also restrict “promotion of adoption or foster care of minors by such individuals, medical interventions related to sex change, and non-use of gender-specific concepts”.